The Big League Tours Baseball Bucket List Survey

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 04:15 PM

October 19, 2011 - Thanks to everyone who filled out our survey about which baseball stadiums you'd like to visit. The response has been tremendous. We thought we would update everyone on the results, so far.

So, here are your top picks with their response percentages:
1.  Tie- Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park 48%
2.  The National Baseball Hall of Fame 35%
3.  Wrigley Field 34%
4.  Miller Park 31%
5.  Oriole Park at Camden Yard 28%

If you haven't filled out the survey yet, just click below and let us know where you want to go with Big League Tours in 2012. We're looking forward to announcing our baseball tours for next season and appreciate your input. Plus, we will give you $100 off your 2012 Big League Tours trip just for completing it. Only one per client.

Topics: Miller Park, baseball stadiums, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, big league tours, Yankee Stadium, hall of fame, Oriole Park, Camden Yards

Final Destination for Our Tour: Fenway Park

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 02:45 PM
July 1, 2011 - Saturday morning the 18th, we loaded up the motorcoach and made our way to Boston. For some of the folks on our tour, this will have been the 6th game in 8 days. For others, it would be their third game in four days. But one thing they had in common, all were very excited to get to Boston to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

We arrived in Boston early in the afternoon and checked into the hotel. Our guests then had a few hours to go explore the sites around bean town. Our hotel was located near the start of the Freedom Trail so many folks started there and explored as much as they could in the time that we had.

My wife and I met some friends at Tasty Burger, a great little burger joint within view of Fenway Park. The food was fantastic. We had classic double View from our seats at Fenwaycheeseburgers and split a 50/50 (half fries, half onion rings). This will be a permanent stop on all the baseball tours I host in Boston.

Here's a photo from our seats. I kept waiting for a foul ball to roll up the screen above us, hit the face of the upper deck, and then fall into my outreached hand, but no such luck. I think only one or two foul balls were hit up there all night. Maybe it was the style of the pitchers that night? Or, could have just been the way the game was going. Here's the link to the box score on MLB.com.

This is still my favorite ballpark in all of the Majors. It's size, character, atmosphere inside and outside the park, history, and fans all make it a great place to visit on our MLB road trips.

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, sports travel and tours, baseball trips, baseball tours, baseball travel, Fenway Park, MLB tours, MLB road trips

Phillies versus the Cubs

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 11:30 AM
June 14, 2011 - Our group tour headed out to Citizens Bank Park on Saturday afternoon to see the Phillies host Tony Luke's sandwichthe Cubs. As is usual for our tours, we arrived plenty early for our guests to walk around and explore the ballpark. One thing we had to do was grab a cheesesteak from Tony Luke's. After plowing through one of these myself, I can understand why Philly natives love these sandwiches (and why the line was so long!!).

After a 30 minute rain delay, the game got underway and was great fun. Cliff Lee pitched very well and the host team prevailed. Chase Utley even hit a home run just so our group could see the Liberty Bell in centerfield light up. (Thanks, Chase!)
Cliff Lee at CBP during one of our small group tours
CBP is a really nice ballpark. It's well laid out and maintained. They've incorporated local favorites like Tony Luke's and Chicky Pete's. And they don't allow fans to run up and down the aisles during an at bat, which is a huge pet peeve of mine in other ballparks.

One downside to CBP is that there really isn't much of anything to do around the ballpark. Part of the great experience at other parks like Coors Field, PETCO Park, and of course Wrigley and Fenway, is that there are so many great things to do before and after the game. I understand that there are things in the works to be built near CBP which will improve that part of the experience.

Off to Baltimore!!

Topics: Coors Field, Citizens Bank Park, Baltimore, Phillies, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Cubs

Cubs at Fenway Baseball Tour Review

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 10:30 AM
June 1, 2011 - I wanted to share an email I received from Tom H. Tom and his son joined us on our Cubs at Fenway Tour a few weeks ago. His recount of this historic MLB tour really captures the Big League Tours experience. He sent along a few pictures, too, so I have included them as well. Enjoy their story from the second of our nine baseball vacation packages this season.

My 13 yr old and I just completed our first trip with Big League Tours, and it was amazing. At first blush, the package price seems a little high compared to what I could do on my own, but after experiencing this event, the cost of the trip was MORE than worth it. Not only were the seats fantastic, but the behind the park tour, and the stories told by Bill "Spaceman" Lee were incredible.
Tom and son at Fenway
Friday Seats











My son is a huge Red Sox fan, and I've been a lifelong Cubs fan. Neither of us had been to Fenway, but we have been to Wrigley Field and a half dozen other major league parks. Fenway is an experience every true baseball fan should enjoy at least once in their life. It was amazing (although I'm still partial to Wrigley Field and the surrounding area!)

Boston itself was a beautiful city, much different than I expected. My only regret is that we scheduled an early morning flight back on Sunday, so we did not get to see very much of the city. If I did this over again, I would plan more time for site -seeing throughout the town.
Park PlazaFirst Pitch Babe Ruth's Daughter











We arrived on Friday afternoon to find our hotel was one of the oldest and nicest in Boston, and we had rooms on the concierge floor with all the amenities we could ask for. Our tour guide Mike was awesome, and met us downstairs a little before the appointed time. Mike took care of us the entire trip, going above and beyond the call of duty even though it meant backtracking for him at the end of the night to go pick his car back up and head for home! You're great Mike, and if you get back "home" to Texas look me up and we'll do Ranger's Stadium!!)

We departed on the subway (an experience for those of us in car-only states) and within 3 exits were at Fenway Park. Even 3 hours before the game, the area was going wild with activity. We walked around taking in the sites outside, then went in to our seats. For the first game, our seats were behind homeplate, about 20-30 rows up. Even though these were incredible seats, I was disappointed at first with the fact that the net came the entire length of the lower deck, making it impossible to catch a foul ball (or so I thought!) Boy was I wrong. About the 5th or 6th inning, a foul ball rolled all the way  up the net, and found a hole in the net! The next thing I know a ball is coming down about three stories toward us. My right hand was full of bags from the Fenway gift shops, but with the speed of light I stuck out my left hand across my body and snagged the foul ball one handed for my Fenway Jewel! The park photographer was there within seconds to capture that moment forever, and even caught my grinning son next to me to make the memory perfect!
 
After the game, our guide gave us the option of taking the subway back to the hotel, which would have been very crowded and very slow, or walking back to the hotel. When he gave me that choice, thinking of Chicago or New York, or even Texas, I looked puzzled and asked if the walk would be safe?? We were about a mile and a half away!! He said yes, so we took out walking. I was amazed how many groups of people were out walking around Boston at midnight, many of these groups of young college age women. I felt completely safe, and enjoyed the beautiful sites of 200 yr old apartments and churches on the way back to the hotel.
 
Saturday we slept in longer than I had hoped, but did have time to take a bus tour around the town. Saturday afternoon we had an incredible tour behind the scenes at Fenway Park, and got to meet one of the most colorful Boston players ever, Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Bill and his lovely wife stayed with us the entire tour, telling stories about the park and his career. Every Boston fan seemed to remember Bill, and wanted their picture taken with him. He seemed to LOVE being out with the people and making everyone happy! Thanks Big League Tours for letting us meet the Spaceman, and THANK YOU BILL for being so great. My son is still telling your stories, and has hardly put down the bat you gave us!
Seats on Saturday
 Tom, son and Spaceman











Saturday's game was even better than Friday ( partially because the CUBS won!!). Our seats were EVEN BETTER than Friday, about 8-10 rows from the field, right behind home plate. Amazing!!
 
Boston was a gorgeous city, and getting around was very easy. My son and I LOVED the entire Big League Tours experience, and look forward to going on another one very soon. The cost was worth every penny, considering the location of the seats, the 4-5 star hotel, and all of the other package perks! Big League Tours certainly lived up to their name, as this experience was BIG LEAGUE all the way!!
 
Tom H.

Thanks, Tom, for sending this to me and for letting me post it on the blog. We are looking forward to having you join us on one of our baseball road trips with Big League Tours again soon!

Topics: Red Sox, Rangers, baseball road trips, baseball vacation package, Fenway Park, big league tours, MLB tours, testimonials, Cubs

SpaceMan is Out of this World!

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 09:45 AM
On Yawkey Way with Bill LeeMay 23, 2011 - We just got back from our Big League Tour trip to Boston to see the Red Sox play the Cubs for the first time since 1918! As usual, BLT comes through again! The hotel was in a terrific location, the seats to both games were phenonemal, but we truly had a terrific time meeting Bill Lee! Our 1:1 time with him was really special - he is a very down-to-earth guy and full of really fun stories. BLT never disappoints!Talking with Bill Lee

Name: Theresa & Frankie
City: Branchburg
State: New Jersey
Country: USA
Your Trip: Red Sox vs. Cubs 2011

Topics: stadium tours, Red Sox, Boston, Fenway Park, big league tours, Chicago, Green Monster, MLB road trips, Baseball, Cubs

Cubs at Fenway Tour Kicks Off in Ten Days

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 09:00 AM
May 10, 2011 - Here’s a home stand that doesn’t happen often. In fact, these two teams haven’t played in Boston since the 1918 World Series, back when Babe Ruth was still pitching for the Red Sox! Night game at Fenway ParkThis should prove to be a great matchup of two storied MLB franchises in the oldest ballpark in the Major Leagues.

Travelers on this long-weekend baseball vacation package will join us in Boston as we take in two games at Fenway Park, sitting in great lower-level seats. We’ll stay in the heart of Boston allowing our guests to explore this historic city along the Freedom Trail, at one of the museums, or any of the historic sites and buildings that Bean Town has to offer.

We’ll also have a reception and a Big League Experience, a meet and greet with Bill "Spaceman" Lee, getting our guests closer to the game that they love. Also included in the package is a baseball stadium tour of Fenway Park.

Friday, May 20        Cubs @ Red Sox, 7:10PM
Saturday, May 21    Tour of Fenway Park
                             Big League Player Experience w/ Bill "Spaceman" Lee
                             Cubs @ Red Sox, 7:10PM

We'll have photos and testimonials coming up!!

Topics: Red Sox, Boston, baseball stadiums, Fenway Park, Baseball

Visiting Baseball's Iconic Stadiums

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 08:45 AM
April 25, 2011 - A recent article named 5 of MLB's baseball stadiums as the most iconic stadiums to visit: Wrigley Wrigley Field under the press boxField, Fenway Park, Camden Yards, AT&T Park, and Citi Field. The article by Fox News outlines the reasons for why you should visit each of the ballparks from the atmosphere, food selection, and unique features like the ivy-covered walls at Wrigley, the Green Monstah at Fenway, and views from the parks in Baltimore and San Francisco.

If you haven't made it to these parks, we would like to invite you to join us on one of our premier sports travel packages this year. We'll not only get you to the ballparks, but we also include several other extras like great seats, great hotels, player appearances, baseball stadium tours, and other trip specific features.

Check out the tour vacations at www.BigLeagueTours.com and book your package today!

Topics: Citi Field, San Francisco, sports travel and tours, Baltimore, baseball tours, baseball vacation package, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, big league tours, Chicago, Green Monster, MLB road trips, Baseball, Cubs

The Spaceman Joins BLT At Fenway Park

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 06:15 AM

March 23, 2011 - Big League Tours is pleased to announce that guests on our Cubs and Red Sox at Fenway tour will have the opportunity to meet Red Sox Hall of Famer, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, as part of our exclusive Big League Player Experience. Fans will enjoy talking with Bill and hearing some of the great stories from his MLB playing days. And, the Spaceman always has a few other philosophical gems to impart like this one:

“I think about the cosmic snowball theory. A few million years from now the sun will burn out and lose its gravitational pull. The earth will turn into a giant snowball and be hurled through space. When that happens, it won’t matter if I get this guy out.”  -Bill Lee

Big League Tours is also offering each guest a $50 gift certificate to the Yawkey Way Store gift shop as part of this premier sports travel package. Don't forget, too, that every guest will get lower level seats for each game at Fenway as part of the package. 

There are spots left on the Cubs and Red Sox at Fenway tour. So, let us know soon if you would like to join us in Boston. Please note that we will not accept bookings for this escorted tour after April 19, 2011.


 

Topics: Red Sox, Yawkey Way, Fenway Park, big league tours, Cubs

Dining Out on Our Baseball Vacation Packages

Posted by Big League Tours on Wed, Nov 23, 2011 @ 03:45 AM
November 26, 2010 - Thanksgiving break is serving as a great chance to catch up on some Food Network shows. One of my favorite shows is Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The show is a great way to learn about some local restaurants to visit while we're hosting our baseball vacation packages.
Chipotle Pastrami Grilled Sandwich
Here's the latest place that we will have to visit: Sam La Grassa's in Boston, Massachusetts. This sandwich shop, which is just a few blocks from our hotel and just off the Freedom Trail, makes sandwiches that are unbelievable. One of the sandwiches that they featured on the show is pictured to the right, a chipotle pastrami grilled sandwich. I can't wait to try it!

If you check out the itineraries for our baseball vacation packages, you'll notice that we give you time to explore the cities that we visit. Why shouldn't we? After all, we feel that getting the flavor of the city is just as important as getting to explore the ballparks that we visit.

We have several tours that will be stopping in Boston this year, giving you a chance to see Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in America, and stop at local attractions like Sam La Grassa's. You know where we'll be eating!

Topics: Boston, baseball vacation package, Fenway Park

Twin Cities Getting Pumped about Target Field

Posted by Big League Tours on Tue, Nov 22, 2011 @ 10:45 PM
April 11, 2010 - One of our greatest joys is to visit baseball stadiums in their inaugural seasons. We've been able to do this for the new Busch Stadium, Nationals Park, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium. This year, we're heading up to Target Field in the Twin Cities on one of our early MLB tours to see the Twins in their brand new ballpark. Columnist Rick Shefchik writes today on TwinCities.com about the increase in demand to visit Minnesota on group travel tours this year.

Here are a few excerpts:

Frank Miles of Jacksonville, Ala., is a stadium counter. A 76-year-old baseball fanatic, Miles has been in every major league ballpark — except Target Field.

Like hundreds of other baseball stadium tourists around the country, Miles will check Target Field, the brand-new Twins ballpark, off his list this summer. He loves the old classics like Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, but he likes the new ones, too, including recently opened PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Busch Stadium in St. Louis and Citi Field in New York.

"I've seen 'em all, every major league ballpark — all the new ones, except this one," Miles said. "I've not heard much about it, but I'll be there this year on a tour." 

Glenn Dunlap, owner of Big League Tours in Indianapolis, said he'll be bringing a group into Minneapolis this summer for the first time in his company's five years of operation.

"The Metrodome was not much of an attraction," said Dunlap of the Twins' former home. "We didn't have a lot of demand from baseball fans to come up to the Metrodome."

Increased tourism to Minneapolis for Twins games is bound to have a positive effect on surrounding businesses. As Dunlap points out, baseball is only part of the lure for ballpark tourists. They like to come early, stay late and thoroughly explore what the ballpark and the city have to offer.

"People are interested in the walleye-on-a-stick and the s'mores they're offering there (at Target Field)," Dunlap said. "State Fair food — that's great. It's part of what people enjoy about visiting different stadiums — the influences on local food and what's in and around the park.

"Target could be a great park. The part that makes a ballpark interesting is what the city does around it. Look at a Coors Field, right in the heart of Denver. That was in a district they've since built up around it, and it has become a great destination spot for the city."

Conversely, Dunlap said, Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., is in an area that needs to be developed.

"They've got a long way to go before people will go hang out there," Dunlap said. "It's what's around Target Field, what's welcoming to baseball fans, not just Twins fans.

Want to visit the new Target Field on one of our baseball vacation packages? Click here for details about this tour and all of our sports travel packages. You'll be glad you did!

Topics: sports travel and tours, baseball vacation package, Fenway Park, PNC Park, Pirates, MLB tours, Busch Stadium, Cardinals, Yankee Stadium, Nationals Park, Twins, Target Field, Minneapolis